Above It All

August 16, 1985

JAKARTA, INDONESIA — Nuts to you. That was Tohiran's attitude toward his creditors. He climbed a 65-foot-high coconut tree 19 months ago and has ignored orders of local officials, pleas from his distraught wife and threats of violence. The Jakarta newspaper Sinar Harapan reported Thursday that the 42-year-old man spends his time singing and making lottery predictions. People give him food and drinks in return. When might he turn over a new leaf? ''I won't come down until I get divine inspiration,'' Tohiran was quoted as saying.